Automatic coin or token operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs

ABSTRACT

A coin or token operated photographic apparatus is of the type having a cubicle for a person to be photographed and adapted to automatically develop, reverse and fix the photograph and then deliver it to the user. The apparatus comprises a cabinet adjacent to the cubicle, the cabinet containing developing, reversing and fixing baths arranged in a circle, and the pieces of photographic paper are put automatically into individual small baskets pivoted on the ends of radial arms supported by a hub plate, the hub plate being intermittently rotated, lowered and raised again to immerse each basket in turn in each bath.

0 Wanted States Patent [191 [11] 3,7223% Qhiesa 1 Mar, 27, E1973 [5 AUTGMATHC (BURN 0R TQKEN 2,541,016 2/1951 Allen ..95/14 OPERATED APPARATUS FOR TAKHNG 3,010,375 l1/1961 Lawson-m- AND A; 2,544,644 3/1951 Allen ..95/39 D [75] Inventor: Luigi Chiesa, Turin, Italy p m s 3 Matthews '7') A Morena]. SA Fribour Switzerland Assistant Examiner--Ricbard L. Moses J] Sslgnee g Att0mey-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [22] Filed: May 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 145,727 ABSTRACT A coin or token operated photographic apparatus is of [30] Foreign Application priority Dam the type having a cubicle for a person to be photographed and adapted to automatically develop, reverse May 23, 1970 Italy ..68776 A/7O and fix the photograph and then deliver it to the user I The apparatus comprises a cabinet adjacent to the cu- [52] US. Cl. ..95/114, 95/89 D bide, the Cabinet Containing developing reversing and CH- ..GQBE) i g baths arranged i a Circle, and the pieces of [58] Field of Search ..95/14, 89 R, 89 D photographic paper are put automatically into dividual small baskets pivoted on the ends of radial [56] References UM arms supported by a hub plate, the hub plate being in- UNITED STARS PATENTS termittently rotated, lowered and raised again to immerse each basket in turn in each bath. 2,916,976 12/1959 Applegate et al. ..95/14 0 3,150,873 9/1964 MacGregor ..271/57 9 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZYISB SHEET MM 14 INVENTOR LLHGl QHHESA whzumgi ATTORNEYS PATH-1150mm ,7

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INVENTOR M1161 CWEQA BY Ma Q MAT 1011115115 PATENTEDHARZYIQTS SHEET 110F141 INVENTOR BY LUIM LHIEQA HMO! L U MTT RN Y PATENTEDHARZYISTS 722 3 4 SHEET lZUF 14 INVENTOR LU\G\ Quugg A uJwolf AC1 MpMTTORNEYS PATENTEDHARZYIHTS 722 3 4 SHEET 13UF 14 INVENTOR LLHGI U-HE A wMbLLL Q0 M ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHARZYIQH SHEET l eUF 14 itBDlF INVENTOR Lmm LHIEA AJMMZ QIMATTORNEW AUTOMATIC COIN OR TOKEN OPERATED APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHS The present invention relates to the automatic appliances which may be operated by insertion of a coin or token for taking and developing photographs, of the type comprising a cubicle accessible to the user and a cabinet joined to the cubicle and containing means of exposing a portion of reversible paper, lighting means and means of developing the aforesaid paper and of issuing the same to the user.

The developing operation is performed by automatically conveying the portion of exposed paper, after severing the same from a feed web, from the photographic assembly to a developing assembly, comprising a plurality of baths into which the paper is immersed in such manner as to be developed and fixed completely at the end of the operating cycle, before being issued to the user.

As a rule, the developing, reversing and fixing baths are contained in a plurality of annularly positioned tanks in such manner that the paper must describe a circular trajectory to come into contact with the different baths, this motion including a plurality of lowering stages for immersion into the baths and a plurality of raising stages for withdrawal from each tank. This trajectory is commonly described by means of multiple conveying devices, of which each can carry but one portion of exposed paper.

The contamination of the baths is frequently observed in the known appliances of the aforesaid type, inasmuch as the portion of paper in process of development, and its conveying means, unavoidably entrain drops from one bath to another on passing from one tank to the next.

Moreover, the application of particular baths which easily undergo evaporation entails the topping-up of the tanks by means of frequent servicing actions. Moreover, the precipitation of insoluble substances contained in some baths is observed in these, which renders it necessary to carry out periodical shaking-up of the baths to keep these at full efficiency.

The'known appliances are complex and onerous to build moreover, and chancy in operation, which exposes these to frequent damage entailing long periods of idleness of the appliance itself.

The present invention has the object of eliminating the aforesaid shortcomings, producing an apparatus of the type defined above, wherein evaporation from the most volatile baths is reduced to a minimum, wherein the level of these baths is kept constant in an automatic manner and wherein the baths which more easily precipitate solid substances are shaken automatically when the apparatus is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of the aforesaid type, which is of simple and robust structure and of precise and reliable operation, and which does not require frequent servicing.

Another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of the aforesaid type wherein the perfect and precise performance of the different stages of the operating cycle is assured with automatic control of each stage to reduce the chances of damage or obstruction leading to a stoppage of the apparatus to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of the aforesaid type, possessing a high degree of automation and whereof the devices are protected against major damage.

The principal feature of the automatic apparatus according to the invention resides in the combination with means of exposing a portion of sensitized paper, of lighting the subject, of causing advance of the reversible paper, of cutting off the portion of exposed paper and of conveying the same to the developing section, of means of developing the exposed portion of reversible paper comprising a plurality of tanks containing the developing, reversing and fixing baths, positioned radially around a vertical axis, a movable frame equipped with horizontal arms whereof the extremities have pivotally arranged on them as many small baskets designed to contain the single portions of exposed paper, the said frame being driven in intermittent rotary manner in combination with an alternating vertical displacement in such manner that, during each operating cycle, the portion of paper to be developed is immersed consecutively in all the tanks of the baths, means of carrying each of the small baskets from the inoperative position to the operative position and vice versa, means of loading the small baskets with the paper exposed by the photographic assembly, means of extracting the imprinted paper at the end of the cycle and of issuing it to the user, means of stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means of shaking some of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an automatic coin or token-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical cross-section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the operating assembly of the apparatus;

FIG. 4, analogous to FIG. 3, is another view in perspective as seen from a different direction;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded diagrammatical view in perspective illustrating a part of the means of conveying and developing the paper;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating one of the small carrying baskets for the paper, in the idle position;

FIG. 7, analogous to FIG. 6, illustrates the same details in the operating position;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view in perspective of some details of FIG. 5, corresponding to the means of stopping the apparatus at the end of the cycle;

FIG. 9 is another partial diagrammatical view in perspective illustrating some arresting and safety devices;

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective illustrating a device for loading the small baskets carrying the paper;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view in perspective of the devices which controls the displacements of the small carrying baskets;

FIG. 12 is another partial view in perspective illustrating some details of FIG. 1 1;

baskets;

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal section taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 17;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are two views in perspective of a device which delivers the paper to the user at the end of the cycle;

FIG. 21 is a cross-section taken along the line XXI XXI of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatical cross-section of an attachment of the driving motor;

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatical axial section of one of the tanks containing the bath;

FIG. 24 is a diagram in plan view illustrating the path of the small carrying baskets; and

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating in sideview the trajectory of the conveying carriages, developed linearly.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 marks a piece of furniture enclosing an automatic photographic apparatus according to the invention; this fixture comprises a space A forming a cubicle, which is accessible to the user, and a cabinet B separated from the cubicle by means of a partition 4. The cabinet is accessible from outside through a door 3 and accessible from the cubicle through a panel 5 which forms part of the partition 4. The door 3 and the partitioning panel 5 cooperate with miniature safety switches 6, 7 which interrupt the current to the different elements of the apparatus every time the aforesaid door or panel are opened. An outer door 2 may contingently bar access to the cubicle A.

The panel 5 of the partition carries a plurality of light bulbs 9 for lighting the subject to be photographed, a central window 10 through which the photographs are taken, a plurality of coin or token-reception devices 1 1 of which each renders it possible to select one or more operating programs, and an indicator panel 12 containing a plurality of light signals which show the stage of operation of the apparatus and the stage of progress of the cycle.

Within the cabinet B is enclosed a supporting frame, formed by a bottom plate 13, by a plurality of vertical uprights 14 and by a top plate 15 formed by a number of elements joined together. On the top plate rests a photographic assembly 16 for photography of the subject, a magazine 17 for the sensitized paper, an electrical assembly 18 containing almost all the electrical elements and the programming devices.

Below the top plate 15 is situated an assembly 20 for conveying the exposed paper, arranged to convey each portion of paper along a plurality of tanks 21 containing developing, reversing and fixing baths; these tanks, having the form of a sector of a cylinder, are arranged like the spokes of a wheel on a support 22 borne by short uprights 23 in unit with the bottom plate 13.

A device 19 is adapted to collect the exposed paper from the photographic assembly and convey the same to the conveying devices; another device 29, at the end of the operating cycle, collects the paper from the conveying devices, squeezes the same to dry it, and delivers it to the user, who can pick up the imprinted portion in a tray 8 situated on the outer door 3 of the cabinet.

Each of the tanks 21 is formed with a projection 24 on its outer rim, abreast of which may be incorporated electrical heating devices 25 for such baths as need to have a higher temperature than ambient temperature. For some baths easily incurring evaporation is incorporated an automatic feed system controlled by means of a float: a tank of liquid 27 at a higher level feeds the corresponding tank through a pipe 26.

The tanks 21 moreover have the greater part of their upper area protected by covers 28 which cover all but a small area through which are inserted the paper conveying devices. In this way, evaporation of the baths is reduced, and provision is made for continuous replenishment with fresh bathing fluid in the tank or tanks wherein a higher degree of evaporation occurs. It is thus possible to reduce the frequency of the periodical servicing of the apparatus.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 is illustrated the device 19 arranged to collect the portion of exposed paper from the photographic assembly 16 and to deliver the same to the conveying devices 20. This device comprises two parallel side pieces 30 connected by cross-members 32, and between which is situated a geared electric motor 39. Integral with the cheek plates are two guides with their grooves 31, 31' in confrontation, along which slides the portion of paper to be developed. The paper is grasped by two pairs of thrust rollers 33, 34, 35 and 36, between which is situated at the front a transparent pane 42. The lower rollers 35 and 36 have matching arcuate profiles to correct possible incurvations of the paper. The rollers which are situated inside the device 33, 35 are driven by means of a chain 37 and sprocket 38, by the geared motor 39.

Along the trajectory of the paper are arranged two miniature switches 40, 40a equipped with pivoted levers 41,4la which are actuated by the paper during its downward displacement.

The miniature switch 40 is energized by the paper to keep the rollers of the device in operation. If it is deenergized after the paper has passed through, it causes the rollers of the said device to stop, and causes the insertion devices forming part of the photographic assembly, to stop. I

Beside the device 19 is secured another miniature switch 43, co-operating with a two-armed lever 44 pivoted around a fixed pivot 45: the shorter arm 44a of this lever co-operates with the aforesaid miniature switch 43, whereas the longer arm 44b carries a transversal pin 46 which is acted upon by the conveying devices as will be described further on.

The paper conveying devices illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, comprise a hub plate 47 equipped with shaped projections 48 on which are fastened a plurality of arms 49 positioned tangentially; at its free extremity, each arm has pivotally arranged by means of a transversal spindle 50, a small paper carrying basket 51. Each small basket consists of two opposed side-pieces 52 of angled profile, carried by upper brackets 53 which are joined to a central U-shaped bearer 54 forming two parallel lugs 55. The two side-pieces are interconnected by a shaped cross-member S6 (omitted in FIG. 6) and are equipped with shaped rails 57 arranged to hold the paper at the bottom and sides.

On one of the lateral lugs 55 is hinged by means of a transversal pin 58 a lever 59 whose other extremity is hinged by means of a pin 60 on a bifurcated lever 61 pivotable around a transversal pin 62 which issues laterally from the corresponding arm 49 carrying the small basket. The bifurcated lever 61 has an open slot 63 at its free extremity and is equipped with a peg 64 projecting laterally in overhung manner.

The pin 60 of the coupling lever 59 bears a grooved roller 65 arranged to co-operate with a shaped extremity 66 of a two-armed lever 67 pivotally arranged around a pin 68 carried by the supporting arm 49. The shaped part 66 is integral with the longer arm 67 of this lever, whereas its shorter arm 67b is exposed to the action of a pair of return springs 69 anchored on a peg 70 secured on the supporting arm 49. The bifurcated lever 61 is connected to a tie-rod 71 which has an enlarged head 71a and leads to an annular plate 82 illustrated in FIG. 8.

This plate 82 is rotatably arranged on the central part of the hub plate 47 and is borne on hemispherical pegs 83 to reduce wear. On the annular plate 82 are situated a plurality of radial brackets 88 equipped with holes through which are passed the tie-rods 71 connected to the small baskets, and the enlarged heads 71a. Adjacently to the brackets 88 are arranged shaped earns 89 arranged to co-operate in particular circumstances with a stationary miniature switch 90. The annular plate 82 is connected to the hub plate 47 by means of vertical pegs 84 engaged in slots 85 of the annular plate. I

A plurality of return springs 86, anchored on the hemispherical pegs 83and on further small pegs 87 1 borne by the annular plate tend to displace this plate towards an idle position.

When a small basket is lowered, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the corresponding bifurcated lever 61 is turned towards the outside of the assembly and the corresponding tie-rod 71 causes the angular displacement of the annular plate 82 from its normal idle position. It is sufficient for a single small basket to be lowered, to cause the plate 82 to be displaced to the aforesaid operating position. In these conditions, the alternating vertical displacements impressed on the hub plate 47 and on the entire set of small baskets, as will be described further on, do not cause contact between any of the cams 89 and the miniature stopping switch 90.

However, if all the small baskets are folded back in the idle horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6, the inward shift of the bifurcated levers 61 causes the release of the tie-rods 71 and the annular plate 82 can turn towards the idle position by the retracting action of the springs 86. The cams 89 are thus displaced to a position such that the first upward displacement of the driving assembly causes one of them to energize the miniature switch 90 which stops the operation of the apparatus as a whole The pivotal displacement of the small baskets to pass from the idle position (FIG. 6) to the operating position (FIG. 7) is produced by means of a cocking device 72 (see FIG. 10) which acts on the bifurcated lever 61 of the small basket affected by the operation.

This device comprises a supporting frame wherein are contained two geared electric motors arranged to rotate in opposite directions and to drive a spindle 73 which bears a crank 74 carrying a peg 75 projecting in overhung manner. The spindle 73 moreover drives a cam 76 co-operating with a miniature switch 77 arranged to stop the motor which has been set in motion at the end of the loading or unloading cycle of the small baskets.

On the same cheek plate of the device 72 is arranged a lever 78 hinged on a fixed pin 79 and co-operating with a miniature switch 80. The longer arm 78a of this lever is acted upon during the upward stroke of the conveying assembly 20, by the peg 64 carried by the bifurcated lever 61 connected to the small basket 51 which is situated beneath the loading device at this moment and is already placed in the operating position.

If, instead, the small basket is situated in the idle position, that is to say parallel to its supporting arm 49, the peg 64 of the bifurcated lever 61 does not come into contact with the pivoted lever 78 and the miniature switch 80 is not actuated.

For the loading action, which consists in displacing the small basket from the idle position to the vertical operating position, one of the motors is energized, causing the peg 75 to rotate clockwise: the above peg engages in the slot 63 of the bifurcated lever 61 and angularly displaces this lever, forcing the small basket to move from the idle position to the extended operating position.

If, instead, the small basket is already placed in the operating position, during the lifting stroke of the conveying assembly 20, the peg 64 causes the displacement of the lever 78 and actuates the miniature switch 80. The response to be activated is thus established when a pulse is received from the programming devices, the second electric motor causing the anticlockwise rotation of the peg 75 to induce the displacement in the opposite direction of the small basket which will be thus carried to the horizontal idle position.

The arms 49 which carry the different small baskets 51 are equipped with slots 49a which are arranged to engage, in the raised position of the conveying assembly 20, on vertical pegs 81 projecting downwards from the hub plate 47, in such manner as to prevent any accidental angular displacement of the assembly. In point of fact, any accidental displacement of the small baskets at this stage of the cycle could cause serious trouble, given that in this position, the small baskets cooperate either with the loading device 72 or with the device 19 for insertion of the paper or with the device 29 for extraction of the paper.

The hub plate 47 which carries the different small baskets has centrally affixed to it a vertical sleeve 91 which extends downwards and is sliding arranged on a vertical splined shaft 92 coupled to a lower driving mechanism 93. A second sleeve 91a projects upwards from the plate 47 and covers the upper extremity of the shaft 92.

The driving assembly 93 is placed in rotation by an electric motor 94 through a belt drive 95: the motor 94 drives a grooved pulley 96 keyed on an intermediate shaft 97 which is coupled to an input shaft 101 through a chain drive 99 and two sprockets 98, 100.

On the input shaft 101 is keyed a worm gear 102 cooperating with a helical gear 103 keyed on a crossshaft 104, the other extremity of which has keyed on it a profiled cam 105 arranged to co-operate with an idle roller 106 which is arranged in overhung manner by means of a screw 117 on a swinging lever 107 pivoted on a shaft 108 parallel to the cross-shaft 104.

On its extremity, the lever 107 carries a toothed sector 109 which meshes with a gear 110 carried by another cross-shaft 111 on which is keyed a pulley 112 of great diameter which has a roller chain 114 secured to it at 113, this chain being partly slung around this pulley. The chain 114 runs over an upper idle pulley 115 and is anchored on the base 116 of the sliding sleeve 91 fastened to the hub plate 47. The rotation of the pulley 1 12 in one direction or the other thus causes the raising and lowering of the conveying assembly 20 and of the corresponding small baskets. the cam 105 has a plurality of notches 1 18 arranged to impart to the conveying assembly 20 a plurality of alternating vertical oscillations while the small baskets and the paper are immersed in the baths.

Integral with the helical gear 103 is a desmodromic cam 119 in which is engaged an idle roller 120 carried in overhung manner by a halfmoon lever 121 pivotally arranged on a horizontal pin 122. The free extremity of this lever carries a pin 123, which projects and oscillates,'and is joined by means of a tie-rod 124 to a vertical pin 125 borne by a shaped lever 126 arranged to oscillate on the base of the vertical shaft 92. The lever 126 is situated between a gear 127 having stellate teeth and a second gear 128 having teeth shaped like catches, which are unitary with the vertical shaft 92: the gear 128 co-operates with an oscillating catch 129 hinged on a pin 130 of the lever 126 and loaded by a spring 131., The rotations of the helical gear 103 cause corresponding rotations of the cam 105 which causes oscillation of the lever 107. This latter causes altemating rotations of the pulley 112 which determine the alternating raising and lowering of the sleeve 91 and of the conveying assembly 20. At the same time, the rotations of the helical gear 103 cause oscillations of the halfmoon lever 121 which, for every rotation, causes the displacement of the idle lever 126 which, with the catch or detent device described, causes the vertical shaft to turn by one step, determining the intermittent angular displacement of the small baskets, combined with the alternating vertical displacements already described.

The helical gear 103 is integral with another cylindrical cam 132 bearing a notch 132a and with which cooperates an idle roller 133 carried in overhung manner by a lever 134 pivotally arranged on the same, shaft 108 of the quadrant gear lever 107. The lever 134 is connected by means of a strong torsion spring 135 to a parallel lever 136 whereof the base carries a roller 137 having a vertical pivot, arranged to co-operate with the stellate denticulation of the lower gear 127 integral with the shaft 92. The two parallel levers 134, 136 oscillate at the same time whenever the roller 133 engages in the notch 132a of the cam 132, in such manner as to cause withdrawal of the bottom roller 137 from the stellate gear 127 and as to allow of the rotation by one step of the shaft 92. The return of the roller 137 into a notch between two consecutive teeth of the stellate gear 127 locks the shaft 92 at the angular position reached.

The lever 134 carries an oscillating pawl 139 pivotally arranged on a horizontal pin 138 and for its part bearing a lateral peg 140 which co-operates with a cam profile 136a borne by the upper extremity of the adjacent lever 136. The free extremity of the oscillating pawl 139 co-operates with a vertical sliding rod 141 arranged to actuate a miniature switch 142 situated at the outside of the driving assembly 93 and which determines the interruption of the operation of the apparatus each time it is actuated. The actuation of this safety switch occurs when the two parallel levers 134,136, besides being displaced at the same time, are displaced separately by overcoming the force of the torsion spring 135. This occurs when the bottom roller 137 remains caught on the cusp of a tooth of the stellate gear 127, while the other lever 134 has its roller 133 released from the notch 132a of the cam 132, which means that the operation is incorrect.

FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate the device 29 which withdraws the developed paper from the small basket and conveys it to the user. This device comprises two parallel cheek plates 143, connected by cross-members and between which is situated a geared electric motor 144 arranged for actuation, through an external sprocket 145 and a roller chain 146 of a plurality of internal rollers 147,148,149,150 co-operating withexternal thrust rollers 151,155,156,157. The roller 151 cooperating with the roller 147, is carried by two oscillating levers 152 pivoted on a horizontal pin 153 and exposed to the action of a return spring 154 which holds the above roller in the position of engagement on the roller 147. The co-operating rollers of the other pairs are coupled by means of gears.

The paper is'delivered from the smallbasket to the first pair of rollers 147,151 abreast of a lead-in guide 158. Between the first and second pairs of rollers, the paper is guided by the same lever 152' to support the external roller 151; between the second and third pairs of rollers and between the third and fourth,'the paper is guided by shaped slides 159. Another slide is situated at the egress of the last pair of rollers to convey the paper into the collecting tray 8 accessible from the outside.

The first pair of rollers exerts a squeezing action the paper to complete the drying of the same.

The driving chain 146 bears two opposed pegs' 161,162 arranged to co-operate each with one of two miniature switches 163 and 164, one of which causes the stopping of the motor 144 at the end of the delivery of the paper and the other of which (164) induces a pulse which acts on the loading device 72 which is actuated to deactivate the small basket which has delivered the paper and to carry the same to the horizontal idle position.

On the other cheek plate of the extracting device 29 is arranged a lever 165 hinged at one extremity on a fixed pin 166 and cooperating with a miniature switch 167 which causes the starting of the motor 144 when the said lever is acted upon by the arrival of the small basket delivering the paper. The lever 165 on its extremity bears a pin 168 on which is hinged another small oscillating lever 169 carrying a projecting peg 170 arranged to be acted upon by the arrival of the small basket for actuation of the miniature switch. The articulation of the terminal part 169 of the lever allows of subsequent activation of the small basket which has been deactivated, in order to initiate another operating cycle, without said reactivation causing the actuation of the extracting assembly.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the driving motor 94, on the other extremity of its shaft 171 from that bearing the driving pulley, carries a multiplicity of excentric weights 172 interconnected by springs, which move apart during rotation and co-operate with a stationary miniature switch 173. If for any reason the speed of the motor were to drop below a predetermined value, because of some obstruction of the machine, the flyweights come closer again to the center of rotation and release the miniature switch which is arranged to stop the apparatus'as a whole and to operate a visual warning.

As illustrated in FIGS. and 23, some of the tanks 21 are equipped with stirrers 174, consisting of sheet metal strips inserted into holes of the covers 28 fitted on these tanks. The lower arm 174a of each angle dips into the bath contained in the tank, whereas the outer arm 174b is acted upon by a pawl 175 which projects downwards from the hub plate 47 at the end of the downward stroke of the conveying assembly 20. The pegs 175 are arranged in such manner as to act on the stirrers when the small basket is immersed into the preceding tank: The small basket is thus immersed into the tank whose liquid has been stirred, after a short interval which allows of the settling of the heavier solid bodies.

The operation of the apparatus described is the following:

,In the idle condition, the conveying assembly is situated at the highest possible position and the last small basket 51 which has performed an operating cycle is stopped in alignment with the extracting device 29 which had delivered the developed paper to the user.

When'the actuating pulse is applied, the small basket is activated, being raised to the vertical position by the action of the activating device 72, with conjoint initiation of the downward stroke of the conveying assembly. As illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the idle position A of the small basket is situated vertically above the tank a forming the last rinsing bath. After initiation of the lowering stage, the conveying assembly is displaced angularly by one step, the still empty small basket thereby being immersed into the next tank n+1 reaching the point B of maximum descent to be rinsed of the impurities or vapors which had settled on the same during its inoperative condition. The small basket then rises again and reaches the position C at which it is in contact with the paper infeed device 19. The small basket actuates the external lever 44 of this device, and activates the same. The paper drawn by the pairs of rollers 33, 34, 35,36, of this device passes into the small basket: after passage of the paper, the switch 40 restores the apparatus to the condition of reception of further orders.

, the extracting device 29.

Each small basket 51 can carry a single portion of paper and all the small baskets canbe co-opted into operation at the same time, evidently performing different stages of their own operating cycles. When all the small baskets have been deactivated because they have delivered their allotted photographs, the annular plate 82 comes into action on the miniature switch to stop the machine and preset the same for another operating cycle.

The principle of the invention evidently remaining unaltered, the method of actuation and the structural details may be varied considerably from those described and illustrated, without thereby exceeding the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a portion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the same to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, a transverse pin on each arm on which a basket is pivotally mounted, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement in such manner that during each operating cycle, a portion of paper to be developed is immersed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa and comprising a respective connecting rod and a respective bifurcated lever for each basket, the connecting rod being linked between said basket and said bifurcated lever, a third spring loaded lever for each basket actuable on said bifurcated lever for pivoting said bifurcated lever to move the basket to the raised position, and activating means coupled to the bifurcated lever to cause it to rotate in one direction or anotherso as to cause the lowering or the raising of the basket; the bifurcated lever having a lateral peg which presets the operation of the activating means in such manner as to produce activation if the basket is in the idle position, and deactivation if the basket is already situated in the vertical operating position, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for activation and deactivation of the baskets comprises two counter-rotatable electric motors, a crank carrying an eccentric peg which meshes with the bifurcated lever, said crank being selectively driven by 

1. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a porTion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the same to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, a transverse pin on each arm on which a basket is pivotally mounted, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement in such manner that during each operating cycle, a portion of paper to be developed is immersed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa and comprising a respective connecting rod and a respective bifurcated lever for each basket, the connecting rod being linked between said basket and said bifurcated lever, a third spring loaded lever for each basket actuable on said bifurcated lever for pivoting said bifurcated lever to move the basket to the raised position, and activating means coupled to the bifurcated lever to cause it to rotate in one direction or another so as to cause the lowering or the raising of the basket; the bifurcated lever having a lateral peg which presets the operation of the activating means in such manner as to produce activation if the basket is in the idle position, and deactivation if the basket is already situated in the vertical operating position, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for activation and deactivation of the baskets comprises two counter-rotatable electric motors, a crank carrying an eccentric peg which meshes with the bifurcated lever, said crank being selectively driven by said motors to carry the baskets from the raised position to the lowered position and vice versa; and an external setting lever and a switch coupled to said motors and actuated at the arrival of the basket at the desired positions to control operation of said motors.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tie-rod having an enlarged head connected to each bifurcated lever, a hub plate on said frame, an annular plate rotatably arranged on said hub plate movable through limited angular oscillating movements relative to said hub plate, the annular plate having brackets wherein are slidingly engaged the enlarged extremities of said tie-rods, a stationary miniature switch to stop the apparatus as a whole, and a plurality of profiled cams on said brackets arranged for selective cooperation with said switch when all the baskets are situated in retracted idle positions and the annular plate has been displaced angularly relative to its position it assumes when at least one basket is in the course of an operating cycle.
 4. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a portion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the saMe to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, a transverse pin on each arm on which a basket is pivotally mounted, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement in such manner that during each operating cycle, a portion of paper to be developed is immersed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets and comprising a paper infeed device having two pairs of pressure rollers, a geared motor driving said pairs of pressure rollers, one pair of which have matching curved profiles; two vertical guides extending between the aforesaid rollers for the paper; a lateral lever on said infeed device, a switch coupled to said motor and acted on by said lever to drive the rollers when a basket is positioned to receive the paper, and two switches situated along the trajectory of the paper and arranged to verify either the passage or egress of this paper, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.
 5. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a portion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the same to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, a transverse pin on each arm on which a basket is pivotally mounted, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement in such manner that during each operating cycle, a portion of paper to be developed is immersed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle and comprising an extracting device having two lateral plates, cross-members interconnecting said plates, several pairs of pressure rollers, an internal geared motor, a drive chain coupled between said motor and said rollers for operating said rollers, the first pair being formed by a stationary roller and a displaceable roller and spring loaded oscillating bearers on which said displaceable roller is mounted, an oscillating lever on one cheek plate having a displaceable frong ''''propago'''' positioned to be acted upon by a basket which delivers the paper, a switch acted on by said ''''propago'''' and coupled to the geared motor for placing the device in operation, and two switches on the other cheek plate, two pawls on said drive chain and projecting sideways from the drive chain for actuating said two switches, one switch being coupled to the geared motor to stop thE operation of the extracting device and the other switch being coupled to said means for driving said frame to actuate the device for deactivation of the driving means, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.
 6. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a portion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the same to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement for immersing a portion of paper to be developed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, and comprising a tubular sleeve on said frame, a vertical splined shaft on which said tubular sleeve is slidable, and a lower driving assembly to which said sleeve and shaft are connected and comprising an electric motor, a main shaft driven by said motor, a profiled cam on said main shaft, an oscillating lever driven by said cam and having a toothed sector thereon, a pinion which said toothed sector meshes, a pinion shaft on which said pinion is keyed, a pulley on said pinion shaft, a roller chain connected with said pulley on said pinion shaft, an upper idle pulley over which said chain runs, said chain being connected with said sliding sleeve for imparting to said sleeve upward and downward motion, a desmodromic cam on said main shaft, an oscillating lever with which said desmodromic cam cooperates, a catch or ratchet device coupled with said oscillating lever and with said vertical shaft and to which intermittent angular displacement is imparted synchronously with the upward and downward movement of said sleeve, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said driving assembly further comprises two oscillating levers, a transversal spindle on which said oscillating levers are mounted, a torsion spring interconnecting said levers, one of said levers having an upper roller, a cam on the main shaft engaged by said roller, the other lever having a lower roller and an upper cam profile, a stellate gear unitary with the vertical shaft with which said lower roller engages, these levers oscillating together to allow intermittent angular displacements of the vertical shaft and to lock said shaft between one displacement and the next; one of the two aforesaid levers having a pawl hinged thereon, said pawl having a lateral extension engaging the upper cam profile on the other lever, a vertical rod arranged to operate a safety switch which stops the operation of the apparatus as a whole, said rod being engaged by said pawl to lift said rod following an altered movement of the two levers caused by an irregularity in the operation of the devices controlling the raising and rOtation of the arms.
 8. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a portion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the same to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, a transverse pin on each arm on which a basket is pivotally mounted, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement in such manner that during each operating cycle, a portion of paper to be developed is immersed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, each of the arms which support the baskets having a longitudinal slot therein, and a fixed peg projecting downwards from said device into said slot to prevent any accidental rotation of the baskets in the upper portion of the trajectory when the baskets are in the raised position, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions.
 9. Automatic token-operated or coin-operated apparatus for taking and developing photographs, comprising, in combination, a photographic assembly for exposing a portion of sensitized reversible paper, means for lighting a subject, means for causing advance of the reversible paper, means for severing the portion of exposed paper and conveying the same to a developing section, means in the developing section for developing the exposed paper portion and means for delivering the same to the user, said developing means comprising a plurality of tanks containing developing, reversing and fixing baths, arranged radially around a vertical spindle, a displaceable frame having horizontal arms, baskets at the extremities of said arms for containing individual portions of exposed paper, means for driving said frame in an intermittent rotary displacement combined with a vertical alternate displacement to immerse a portion of paper to be developed consecutively into all the tanks of the baths, said driving means including a motor having a shaft, a transmission pulley on the shaft, means for carrying each of the small baskets from an idle position to an operating position and vice versa, means for delivering the paper after it has been exposed in the photographic assembly to the small baskets, means for withdrawing the imprinted paper and for delivering the same to the user at the end of the cycle, means for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle, means for stirring at least one of the baths during the operating cycle, and safety devices to stop the operation of the machine in case of obstructions and comprising a plurality of eccentric weights on the opposite end of said shaft from said transmission pulley, springs interconnecting said weights, said weights being movable apart during rotation of said motor, and a normally closed switch coupled to said motor for deenergizing said motor and positioned to be engaged by said weights when said weights move inwardly when said motor slows down due to an obstruction to the movement of said apParatus. 